Time-controlled valve-actuating mechanism.



PATBNTED MAY 22, 1906. A. J. OAKES. TIME CONTROLLED VALVE AGTUATINGMECHANISM.

AIPLIOATION FILED FEB. 13. 1906.

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ATTORNEY! No. 821,184. v PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

A. J. OAKES. TIME CONTROLLED VALVE AGTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.13. 1905.-

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E I Q 1 y A By W dad W ATTORNEYS PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

A. J. OAKES.

TIME CONTROLLED VALVE AGTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13. 1905.

3 SHEBTS-SHEET 3.

INV'L'IVTOR Ari/mi" d. Oakas BY dfdfpdmz 4TTOH/VEKS rrnnr @FFJIGE.

s'rarns ARTHUR J. OAKES, OF CHANUIE, KANSAS. rmuz-oonrsoaian vAivEAo'i-uarunle MECHANESWH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

azensec'. May 22. 1906.

1'0 all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. OAKEs, residing at Chanute, in thecounty of Neosho and 'State of Kansas, have invented a new and ImprovedTime-Controlling Valve-Actuating Mechanism, of which the following isaspecification. Y

My invention, which generally seeks to provide a new and improved'meansfor automatically discharging pressure of air, steam, gases, and otherfluids at predetermined times, more especially has for its purpose toproduce a simple, inex ensive, and positivel -operating means or flowingoil-wells by discharging into the well at predetermined times an orother fluids under pressure; and my said invention in its generic naturecomprehends a means for discharging an air line or feed containing fluidunder compression and mechanism for intermittent y opening the saidair-line or fluid-feed to discharge against the fluid within the welland which automatically closes 03 the said fluid-discharge to the wellat predetermined intervals.

In its more complete nature my invention embodies a means or leading afluid-pressure into the well against the fluid therein at predeterminedintervals which comprises a valved feedpipe cooperatively joined withthe well -tube, a clock mechanism, a supplementalair-pressure-controlled means for opening the valve'inthe feedi eenergized by direct communication with tile feed-pipe, and a means forcutting out the supplemental air-pressure line controlled by the saidclock mechanism.

My invention also has for its object to provide in-acompressedfluid-discharging means embodying the general features beforestated 5 point.

a means for keepingup the clock-mechanismactuatlng spring to asubstantially uniform tenslon controlled b theshifting of the valvedevice in the mainine pipe and devices for i closed by the plug K at thelower end and has 3 one or more inlets I, having baekflap valves i J andprovided at-the upper end with a bushing F, to which the lower end ofthe dis readily setting the clock mechanism to actuate the valve 1n thesupplemental air line on one, two, or three hour intervals or'onjahefraction of or multiples of such periods.

In its more subordinate features my inven-v tion consists in certaindetails of'construotion and novel combination and arrangement of parts,all of which will be hereinafter fully explained, pointed o u t in theappended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a viewillustrating the general and the air line or tube thatoperation and a plication of my invention. 7

Fig. 2 1s aside e evation, parts bein in section, of theautomatically-actuate means for controlling the pressure-discharge andits flow to the oil-well. Fig. 3' is an enlarged view,- in verticalsection, of the base portionof the well with its outflow or dischargingpipe surrounds 1t. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the clock mechanism andillustrates the position of the same when the air back of the diaphragmthat holds the main valve down is exhausting and the air-line is opendirect to the well. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the notched wheel,the cam-whee and the valve-lever actuated thereby. Figs. 6 and 7 aredetail views of modifications of the tripping-cams on the hour- 0st ofthe clock mechanism hereinafter re erred-to. Figs. 8 and 8 aremodifications of' t-he striker-wheel S hereinafter ex plained. Fig. 9 isa vertical section of the relief-valve. Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectionthereof on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detail section, on anenlar ed scale, of one of the valve devices J; and ig. 12 is ahorizontal section on the line 12 12 of 3.

While the construction of parts isclosed in the accom anying drawingsshow a simple and preferred arrangement of myinvention, I desire itunderstood that the said disclosure is intended to illustrate thegeneric principle of my invention, as the mechanism illustrated may bevaried or modified without departing from the broad ideas of my inven- 5tion that come within the scope of the here-, inafter-specified claims.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the controlling Emechanism mounted within ahousing 10, located near the well but in practice said housing may belocated at any convenient The casing-head ais on the upper end of theupper casing-tube at, that extends down into the well. I

H designates the bottom casing, which is charg -pipe E from the air-lineconnects. The upper. end of the pipe E connects with a T-COliP ing e,with which the main air-line pi e connects and through which the ofi tae or oil-discharge pipe D passes and which extends down through thepipeE into the casing H 'to thereof, as shown.

a point near the bottom G designates a globe-valve located in the mainair-line pipe E, and g g designate standards mounted on the oppositeends of the valve-casing, which extend vertically from the pipe E. Onthe upper end of the standards g g is mounted a horizontal casingcomposed of the base member P and'the domeshaped cap P detachablysecured to the base P by the bolts and nuts, as shown. The stem G of thevalve G extends centrally up through the base member P and carries adisk that engages the diaphragm O, which divi es the casing-chamber, itbeing held secure the 'c'lamp'ed flanges of the casing members, asshown. 7

Within the air-line pipe at a point between the valve G and the well islocated a reliefvalve which comprises the tubular plug 1, screwed intothe ipe E and having a valves'eat 1 the tubufar shell 2, screwed ontothe plu- 1 and having air-outlets 52 2 the valve 8, that coacts with theseat 1 and whose stem 8 goes up into the shell and enters the pendenthollow adjusting-screw in the top of the shell for regulating thetension of the spring 4, that forces the valve 8 from its seat and whichrests upon the disk 7, secured to the valve-stem, as clearly shown inFig. 9, the purpose of which will presently appear.

B designates a supplemental air-line pipe that connects with the mainair-line pi e E and which discharges through the dinneshaped cap Pagainst the diaphragm O, and in the said pipe B is mounted avalve-casing N, having an exhaust-port R. A two-way valve-core N ismounted in the casing, which under one adjustment (see Figs. 2 and 4)opens up a direct communication between themain and the supplementalair-line pipes, and thus allows for air under high pressure entering thecasing P against the diaphragm, whereby to cause the valve G to movedown against its seat, and thus normally close off the main air-linepipe E from the well. When adjusted to .its other position effected atpredetermined times, (in the manner hereinafter fully described,) thevalve-core closes off the main air-line pipe from the casing P andallows the air against the diaphragm O to bleed off through theexhaust-port R in the valve-casing N, and by reason of the res, sure nowbeing off the top of the valve G the air-pressure in the vmain lineforces up the said valve G, and thus permits the air-pressure todischarge down lntov the we'll against the fluid, which is then causedto flow freely out of the pi e D to the collectingtank. At this pointeem it proper to again say that any suitable time-controlled means forshifting the valve N at the desired intervals may be utilized. i g I Inthe drawings I have shown a special form of clock mechanism which I findeffec tively serves the intended purposes and is readily modified toactuate the valve at any desired intervals. The means shown comprise aclock-mechanism-supporting frame 20, supported in any approved manner adacent the valve-casing N. The train of gearing includes a cam-wheel J,having two diametrically opposite notches j j, and the said cam-wheel ismounted to turn with the striking-wheel S, which is in motion during thetime the air is discharging into the well and is cut off from diaphragm(l, and the motion is arrested by the drop-pawl T engaging one of thedeep notches t t, at which time one of the notches in the cam-wheel willbe in line with the arm M, secured to the stem of valve N, which has aright-angled roller-bearing head m, that drops down into the cam-wheelJ, arrests the motion thereof, and at the same time shifts the valve Nto bring the main and supplemental air-line back into communication, andthus shift the valve G to eut off the air-line from. the well.

When the air-pressure is cut off from the well, the tension of spring 4on the reliefvalve is sufficient to open the said valve after enough ofthe air-main pressure in well has escaped through the oil-line D toallow the spring 4 to shift the valve 8. When main-line pressure passesto the well, the said. main-line pressure acts on the disk 7 and liftsthe valve 8 against the seat.- sure being on the valve-head keeps therelief closed. 1

The striking or tripping action of the clock mechanism may be readilyvaried. For instance, should it be desired to flow the well everyfifteen minutes instead of putting a single cam on the hour-post of theclockmovement, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a quadruple-camdevice likethat shown in Fig. 6 may be used, and in caseitis desired to flow atevery half-hour the hour-post can be (i quipped with a double earn, asshown in i'g. 7,

To reduce the flow once inevery two hours, a single cam on the hour postisused and an additional deepnotchis ma'deon' both sides ofthestrikingrwheehas shown in Fig. v8,. and for every threeho'urs a thirdZhotch is made,

as shown- .1 1Fig s and. tso on, further changes in. ,t imje. of.:flowin being controlled byproper adjust "ents of t e striker wheel.

The pres- 9 5 bdesigna-tes aneXpansion-tube.suchasis I commonly used inpressure-gages ,1 which con-,. nects wit [the aialine pipe E andexten'dsvertically therefrom, said connection being by means of coupling-nipple,as shown; The upper end of the expansion-tube b coaots with atri"per-wheel. W, having radiating prongs. w', w en the ressure in themain line s not sufficient to owthe well. On end of tube I) is mountedan adjustable finger b, which is arranged to engagethe prongs w,- whichstops wheel W on the hour-post, and thus cuts out the cam device thereonfrom tripping the striking attachment of the clock-movement,

sainsa While the time portion of the clock-movement remains in action.

U and V designate ratchet-wheels mounted on the winding-posts that carrythe mainspring, and X and Y indicate levers that are pivotally connectedat one end to the posts and 40, respectively, and each of which carriesa spring-pawl a: and y, that engage their corresponding ratchet-wheels.The lever X has a pendent link :0, that pivotally connects with the freeend of a lever Z, pivotally connected at its rear end to one of thestandards 9 and is also pivotally joined to the stem of valve G, asshown. The lever Y is pivotally connected at its outer end to the outerend of lever X by a slot-and-stud fastening, as shown.

By providing a lever-and-ratchet means arranged as shown and describedthe downward movement of the valve G is utilized for winding up theclock-spring, since the downward pressure on the valve is powerfulenough to effect the desired movement of the levers X and Y. To providefor compensating a gain on either winding-post, whereby the spring willbecome too tight, the levers X and Y are made of spring-steel, so thatin case of excess pressure therein they will either one or both flex orbend.

a From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it is believed the manner in which my oil-well-flowing meansoperates and its advantages will be readily apparent.

It will be noticed the action is automatic. The shifting of the valve inthe air-line is controlled by the air in the main line, while the timeswhen said air is permitted to shift the main or cut-ofl valve iscontrolled by a clock mechanism arranged to be set to actuate atpredetermined intervals. It will be also understood that While I haveshown my invention as applied for use on a single oil-well it can bereadily adapted for flowing any number of wells in the field, sincepressure on all lines would be the same. The times that air would bedischarged into the 'wells would be the same for all wells; but a smallproducer, it is obvious, would not require as much air for flowing it aswould a large" producer. To provide for proper air-pressure to eachwell, a supplemental globe-valve 6 is placed on the main air-line pipe,as shown in Fig. 1, to govern the volume of air to be discharged intothe well, according to its requirement. The period of discharge forflowing in practice is from twenty to thirty seconds, according totension kept on the clock-striking-means-actuating spring.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a main air-line thatdischarges into the well, a main valve in'said line automatically closedto cut ofl the main line from the well by the normal pressure in themain line, a second valve cooperatively oined with the main line forcontrolling the pressure-feed against the main valve said second valvehaving an exhaust-port and a two-way core, and an automatically-actuatedmeans for shifting the said core at predetermined times to cut off themain-line pressure against the main valve for the purposes described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with themaigo pipeline for discharging a fluid under pressure into a well, avalved casing in said pipe-line; an air-chamber, a stem on the valvethat works in said air-chamber, and a diaphragm within the said chamberthat engages the valve-stem; of a supplemental pipe-line that joins withthe main pipe-line and discharges into the aforesaid air-chamber againstthe diaphragm therein, a two-way valve in said supplemental pipe-lineada ted under one adjustment to connect the diaphragm-chamher with themain-line pipe and under another adjustment to bleed off theair-pressure in said chamber against the diaphragm whereby to permit thefluid-pressure in the main-line pipe to shift the main valve to its openposition and an automatically-actuated means for shifting the saidtwo-way valve .at predetermined times, as set forth.

3. In an apparatus-as described, the combination with the air-line and avalve therein normally held open, and a clock-actuated means forcontrolling the said valve to move it to its closed position atpredetermined intervals, of a means for automatically rewindingtheclock-spring actuated by the shifting of the cut-off valve, as setforth.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with themain pipe-' line arranged to discharge fluid under pressure into a Well,a main valve in said pipe that normally closes off the discharge throughsaid pipe to the well, said valve having a projecting shank, a flexiblediaphragm connected to the upper end oi the stem, a supplement air-linefrom the main pipe-line that discharges against the diaphragm to movethe main valve to its closing posltion, a two-way valve in saidsupplemental line adapted under one adjustment to open up communicationbetween the main-line feed and the diaphragm-chamber, and under anotheradjustment to cut out the main line from said diaphragm-chamber and toopen said chamber to atmosphere and means for automatically shifting thesaid two-way valve at predetermined times for the purposes specified.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination with acasing supported in the well closed at the bottom and aving valvedintakes, of a pipeline that conveys fluid-pressure, that'discharges intothe top of the casing in the well, an oil-discharge pipe that extendsinto said casing, a valve in the pipe-line normally held open by thepressure in the air-line and automaticallyactuating means for pressureagainst the said valve for closing said valve, said means being operableat predetermined times for the purposes specified.

6. In a well-flowing apparatus of the character stated, the combinationwith the pipeline thatconve s fluid-pressure into the well, and thecut-o valve therein, held open by the pressure in the pipe-line, of asupplemental air-line the pressure of which serves to close the cut-ofivalve, atwo-way valve in said supplemental line, and a.clock mechanismfor controlling and shifting the two-way valve to close off thesupplemental air-line from the main air-line whereby to release the backpressure on the cut-off valve in the main line, as stated.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with theair-line, the valve in said line, clock-actuated means for shifting thesaid valve to its closed posileading the main line tion at predeterminedperiods, said means including the pronged wheel W, of thepressuretube 1) connected to the main line and having its free endarranged to cooperate with the wheel W, for the purposes described.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with themain pipeline the globe-valve connected therewith and normally held openby pressure in said pipeline; of the casing P the dia hragm 0 connectedwith the stem of the globe-valve, the supplemental air-line thatconnects with the main pipe-line and discharges into the casing Pagainst diaphragm O, the two-Way valve in the supplemental line,normally held to 0 enthe air from the main line against diap ragm O, anda clock mechanism for shifting the two-way valve at predetermined timesto close off the air to the casing, as set forth.

I ARTHUR J. OAKES.

Witnesses:

W. D. FORBES, W. T. CHAMBERS.

